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Cyclists once faced a rocky road if they tried to use the stretch of the Landon Trail located just south of S.W. 45th Street.

But Shawnee County recently replaced the railroad ballast gravel surface of that nearly three-quarter mile section of trail with a limestone screening surface featuring smaller pieces of gravel that are much easier to ride on, said Bill Riphahn, park planner for Shawnee County Parks and Recreation.

The county will hold a grand opening ceremony Saturday for that segment of the trail. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. at a bridge located on the trail just south of S.W. 45th Street and east of S.W. Topeka Boulevard.

Riphahn said the recent project provides a linchpin connection between one section of the recreational trail being operated by Shawnee County and another being developed by the Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy Inc.

The trail follows a former railroad right of way. It starts just east of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, 1515 S.E. Monroe.

The part of the trail developed initially by the city of Topeka’s parks and recreation department — then by Shawnee County Parks and Recreation, after a 2012 merger of city and county parks and recreation services under county control — runs four miles, to S.W. 45th.

Riphahn said the stretch of trail being officially opened Saturday then runs nearly three-quarters of a mile south from S.W. 45th to its intersection with S.W. Sanneman Drive.

The Sunflower Conservancy is responsible for the more than 30 remaining miles of the trail, which runs southeast through Shawnee County into Osage County.

Some of those trail miles have been developed and some haven’t. Riphahn said its total length at the time of completion will be 35 miles.

The Rail-Trails Conservancy is empowered to develop the trail by the federal Rails to Trails Act, which allows for railroad easements to be used by groups that then pay taxes on them or obtain tax exemptions from the state. Should the railroad or federal government again need the right of way, they could theoretically take it back.

Riphahn said the Landon Trail, when completed, will connect with the Flint Hills Nature Trail, which is planned to span 115 miles running from Herington east to Osawatomie.

■ Parking about 10 a.m. in the lot of a vacant gas station on the south side of S.E. 37th Street, just east of Kansas Avenue, then riding, walking or running along the trail to the ribbon-cutting site.

■ Meeting about 9:30 a.m. at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site for a 10-mile ride along the trail to S.E. 53rd Street and back, with the ribbon-cutting taking place along the route.

■ Meeting at the Brown v. Board site and taking a 22-mile ride along the trail to S.E. Tecumseh Road and back, with the ribbon-cutting taking place along the route.

Riders will be required to wear a helmet and are encouraged to bring food and water. No restrooms will be available, Riphahn said.

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